Launched by two sisters and their cousin, the campaign is gaining heavy-hitters from the arts, business and academia.

A grassroots group fighting to keep a casino off Toronto's waterfront started with two sisters and their cousin. Now, heavyhitters including architect Ken Greenberg and urbanist Richard Florida have joined them. In this photo, Maureen Lynett and Peggy Calvert of No Casino Toronto.

A grassroots no-casino campaign launched by two sisters and their cousin in an Etobicoke living room has grown to include heavy-hitters from arts, business and academia who will gather weekly in a downtown office.

“Dwight Duncan’s idea of a jewel, a golden mile, to me was a nightmare,” that would ruin the waterfront, harm neighbourhoods and send a terrible international message about what Toronto considers “iconic,” she said.

The oil painter, her sister and cousin started asking downtown councillors for advice and were put in touch with Kevin Stolarick, research director of the Martin School of Prosperity at the U of T’s Rotman School of Management.

They put up a website and online petition that has garnered more than 3,000 names — it automatically sends emails to signatories’ city councillors — and attracted influential members, who gathered Wednesday.

Stolarick said academic research not sponsored by the gaming industry shows casinos hurt local economies. His “bunch of city builders” want to counter pro-casino data, including a city-funded consultant’s report.

Lynett said they haven’t planned next steps, beyond participating in the city’s consultation process that will lead up to a council vote, likely in March.

Those who believe a casino could be great thing for the city have noticed the building opposition visible in the city’s east end, thanks to more than 100 “No casino” lawn signs distributed by Toronto-Danforth MPP Peter Tabuns.

“They’ve got off the mark and they’re out their mobilizing. We have our issues; we have to get our message out there, too,” said Mike Yorke, president of Carpenters Local 27.

“From a working person’s perspective, a union person’s perspective, we think this is a good (casino) plan with a potential for a lot of high-quality jobs.”

If Toronto tells the province it will host a casino, the city can negotiate benefits including guarantees of invaluable apprentice opportunities for youths and returning soldiers, Yorke said, estimating 1,500 of his members would get at least some work on a downtown $2 billion casino-resort.

Increased convention capacity would benefit local display and exhibit manufacturers, he said, and boost business for hotels and restaurants.

Local 27 and sister union Drywall Local 675 have 12,000 GTA members, more than half of them Torontonians, Yorke said, adding he’ll be urging them to make their voices heard in the city consultations.

“Look at Barcelona, look at Melbourne — this casino could be an integral, vibrant part of the waterfront.”

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